Alleged Thief Caught Breaking Into Vehicle Outside Police Dept.

Posted On August 07, 2014

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By Mike Perleberg

Austin CherryDearborn County Sheriff’s Dept.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – An alleged thief chose a really bad spot to break into a vehicle.

A police officer was in the parking lot of the Lawrenceburg Police Department at about 4:00 a.m. on July 24. That’s when the officer noticed a person open the door to an SUV parked nearby and begin rifling through the glovebox, a court affidavit states.

The officer approached and closed the car door on Austin Cherry in the vehicle. Cherry, 21, of Guilford, attempted to claim that the vehicle belonged to his mother. When contacted, the owner of the vehicle said he did not know Cherry or his mother.

Several other vehicles in the area were broken into that same night, but police are still investigating. Cherry was found in possession of a red solo cup filled with change, but the officer could not verify if the coins had been stolen.

Cherry was arrested. He has been charged with Attempted Theft (Class D felony) and Unlawful Entry of a Motor Vehicle (Class B misdemeanor). He also faces a probation violation charge relating to an arrest for Possession of Marijuana last year.

People don't know the whole story when making comments. This person has mental problems and his mother tried getting help for him from the Lawrenceburg police department a week before this occurred and as usual no help was received from the police. Way to go Dearborn County!

@couldawouldashoulda His mother did contact Mental heath and they told her to call the police to do a mental health check on him and that is what happened. The police officer was not to concerned with his behavior and said there was nothing to do. Mental health in our country is on the rise and should be taken more serious. Just a sad situation. Many mentally ill people self medicated themselves which also make the situation more serious.

You might recall the death of a three-year-old boy hit by a truck in Dearborn County four years ago. Since then, Jack Carpenter's mom has made it her mission to prevent distracted driving deaths. Here's what she has courageously accomplished.